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Nine European Semifinal Applications Showcased at 2007 3GSM World Congress in
Barcelona, Spain
BARCELONA, Spain-- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map
data for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, announced the European
winners of the NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge today at the 3GSM World Congress. The
challenge is designed to stimulate the LBS industry by encouraging application
developers from around the world to build innovative location-based service (LBS)
applications that work with portable devices using wireless technology and NAVTEQ(R)
maps. Over 340 companies registered for the Challenge globally, of which nine
semifinalists advanced to the final judging in Barcelona, Spain. The semifinalists
represented a broad spectrum of wireless applications in three categories: Navigation,
Business Applications, and Social Networking. Semifinalists were selected based
on each competitor's commercial feasibility, functionality and design.
The grand-prize winner and Navigation Category Winner, Jentro Technologies GmbH,
received euro 35,000 in cash and euro 100,000 worth of NAVTEQ Map licenses for
up to one year. Jentro's application, activepilot, is a location-based, end-to-end
service offering local search, community tools, e911, and off-board navigation.
This versatile product meets the needs of the mass market, and also acts as a
sensor for generating traffic flow information through its users via its exclusive
Floating Car Data technology. Jentro is powered by PTV.
Each category winner, excluding the Grand Prize Winner, will receive euro 5,000
in cash and euro 75,000 worth of NAVTEQ Map licenses for up to one year.
The Category Winners are:
Business Application
Smarter Agent combines mobile LBS with information about apartments, homes, and
Neighborhoods to create Mobile GPS Home and Apartment Search. This application
instantly acquires a user's position and delivers detailed information about Homes
For Sale and Apartments For Rent around them. As consumers search, agents, newspapers,
and advertisers benefit from location-aware lead generation opportunities within
Smarter Agent.
Navigation Application
Jentro Technologies GmbH developed activepilot, which ultimately went on to win
the Grand Prize in lieu of the category award.
Social Networking Application
AtlasCT, a leading developer and provider of worldwide mapping solutions, created
relive!, a unique and handy leisure application, allows users to take photos and
write notes along a trip route and seamlessly link them to their locations on
the map. Users may later access the trip on the website to view the trip route,
photos, and notes on a map in their authentic locations.
In addition to the cash and licenses awarded by NAVTEQ, many of the Global LBS
Challenge sponsors are also offering prizes to this year's Category and Grand
Prize Winners. The global prize pool is valued up to an unprecedented euro 1.5
million.
Executives from wireless carriers, hardware and device manufacturers, venture
capitalists and other influential players in the wireless industry served as the
official judges and participated in the judging on Sunday, 11 February on site
during 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The judges based their final decisions
on three criteria: commercial viability, unique functionality and features and
ease of use.
Nokia globally sponsored the Challenge for the second consecutive year, and provided
LBS contestants with access to resources from Forum Nokia (Nokia's global developer
program). Joining Nokia, additional influential sponsors and partners include
Autodesk, deCarta, Garmin, PTV, and Telefonica. Sponsors and partners offered
free access to tools, platforms and support to Global LBS Challenge developers
in Europe.
"We have seen an explosion in location-based service and navigation integrated
into wireless solutions this week at 3GSM. The goal of the Global LBS Challenge
is to create momentum by providing a forum for key industry players to collaborate
with application developers," commented Winston Guillory, Senior Vice President,
Consumer and Enterprise, NAVTEQ. "The quality, commercial viability and ingenuity
seen in this year's applications have exceeded expectations. NAVTEQ congratulates
the European winners of the Global LBS Challenge, and expresses our gratitude
to the judges and sponsors that continue to help drive innovation and growth in
this critical area."
NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge
First launched in North America in October 2003, the Global LBS Challenge is
focused on driving the development and visibility of innovative navigation solutions
for wireless devices. From wireless business applications to sports, travel and
security, integrating the accuracy and richness of NAVTEQ digital map data facilitates
the timely evolution of the next wave LBS using global positioning satellite (GPS)
technology. Industry validation of the Global LBS Challenge for the category overall
encouraged NAVTEQ to host the judging and presentations for the first time in
both Europe and North America this year.
The semifinalist applications submitted in the Americas will be judged, and the
winners announced, on 28 March, 2007 in Orlando, Florida at CTIA Wireless 2007.
More information regarding next year's Global LBS Challenge will be available
in the upcoming months at www.LBSChallenge.com.
About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive
navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications,
and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map
content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the
world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 2,100
employees located in 139 offices in 25 countries.
NAVTEQ and Global LBS Challenge are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries.
(C) 2007 NAVTEQ. All rights reserved.
This document may include certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts and statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends",
"plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or words of similar meaning. These statements
are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to
various risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under "Item 1A. Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005 and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended July 2, 2006, in each case as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in
global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors.
NAVTEQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this document.
see www.lbschallenge.com
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